As the government preemptively proposes a solution to the issue of compensation for victims of forced labor during the Japanese occupation, the biggest conflict between Korea and Japan, interest in Japan’s future moves is gathering.
Despite the burden of opposition from some of the victims and the possibility of deteriorating domestic public opinion, the Korean government pursued the cause of ‘building a future-oriented relationship’ and came up with a solution ‘acceptable to Japan’. In this regard, some foreign affairs experts point out that if Japan does not fully respond to South Korea’s display of ‘sincerity’, it may rather bring about a further ‘regression’ in bilateral relations.
As previously announced, the Korean government announced on the 6th the Compensation for Compensation for Forced Mobilization victims, as announced earlier, through the ‘Support Foundation for Victims of Forced Mobilization in Japan’, a public institution under the Ministry of Public Administration and Security, in October-November 2018, in a final decision of the Supreme Court, Japanese war criminal companies (Nippon Steel, It is a ‘third-party reimbursement’ method that pays judgment money (100 million won or 150 million won per person) and delayed interest to victims who won the case against Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.
However, in terms of the results alone, the government’s solution did not guarantee the ‘participation in compensation by Japanese war criminal companies’ that some victims had requested.
In announcing this solution, the South Korean government left open the possibility of participation by Japanese companies, saying, “We will raise funds for the judgment through voluntary contributions from the private sector.”
However, given that the Japanese side has stated that it cannot accept the Korean Supreme Court ruling, “The direct participation of Japanese defendant companies in compensation, which may appear to fulfill this ruling, is difficult to materialize even in the future.” is a common observation of diplomats.
On the afternoon of the 6th, members of the Action for Justice and Peace in Korea and Japan, which are civic organizations such as the Justice and Memory Solidarity and the Institute for National Issues, hold a candlelight vigil in front of Seoul City Hall to denounce the Yoon Seok-yeol government’s compensation plan for victims of forced labor. 2023.3.6/News 1It is known that the Japanese side did not bend this position even during the consultation process so far. Because of this, it is said that some of our diplomatic authorities have raised a ‘speed control theory’ such as ‘let’s postpone the announcement of the solution until the Japanese defendant companies’ participation in compensation is clearly guaranteed’.
However, as the South Korean Supreme Court’s ruling on compensation for damages from forced labor and Japan’s subsequent strengthening of export regulations to South Korea continued, the relationship between Korea and Japan, which had been strained for the past several years, was judged to ‘never be left unattended’ Officials explained that they had made a decision. It is said that President Yoon Seok-yeol’s ‘will’ also had a strong effect here.
The Japanese government responded positively to the South Korean side’s announcement of a solution to compensation for victims of forced labor. In particular, Japanese Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa said, “The Japanese government confirms that it will inherit the position of the previous cabinets on historical awareness, including the joint declaration between the two countries announced in October 1998 (Kim Dae-jung-Obuchi Declaration).” also made a statement.
In addition, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy of Korea and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan foretold consultations to restore the reinstatement of the strengthened export control measures from Japan after the announcement of the compensation for forced labor damages.
However, some critics say that the series of movements following the announcement of the South Korean government’s resolution for compensating for forced labor are ‘nothing new’ in that they have already been predicted in the process of discussing the solution.
An expert on Korea-Japan relations who requested anonymity said, “Japan is currently taking very lukewarm steps” in relation to the South Korean government’s announcement of a solution to compensation for victims of forced labor. It needs to be pointed out.”
In an interview with Voice of America (VOA), which was reported on the 7th, Patrick Cronin, chair of Asia-Pacific Security at the US Hudson Institute, also commented on the South Korean government’s decision to present a solution for compensation for forced labor, saying, “Prime Minister Fumio Kishida also (Korea and Japan) G) We must muster the political courage to appropriately reflect on the past.”
Currently, diplomats are predicting that a diplomatic summit between President Yun and Prime Minister Kishida will be held in Japan after the middle of this month at the earliest. Taking this as an opportunity, some observers say that if the Japanese side fails to send a ‘meaningful’ message for the future-oriented development of Korea-Japan relations, a situation in which related discussions may return to the ‘originating point’ cannot be ruled out.
Former U.S. Ambassador to Korea Robert Rapson also said in an interview with VOA, “If the Kishida administration does not show leadership and respond in a meaningful way (to the South Korean side), the ‘breakthrough’ that President Yoon has prepared could be undone in the face of strong domestic criticism.” “Then there is a possibility that Korea-Japan relations will also deteriorate for several years or more. This jeopardizes the prospects for strengthening trilateral cooperation between South Korea, the U.S. and Japan.”
US President Joe Biden said in a statement after the announcement of the Korean government’s compensation for forced labor the day before, “President Yoon and Prime Minister Kishida are taking important steps to create a safer, more stable and prosperous future for the people of Korea and Japan.” When fully realized, our bilateral action will help support and advance our common vision for a ‘free and open Indo-Pacific’.”
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.